Low cost tube head - Bugera 1960 vs Peavey VB-2? Or?

Are there any comments on these two low cost options for the "tooob nooob"?

I have very nice sounding SS amps but in 17 years of bass playing I have never owned a tube amp. Ampegs are very expensive in Sweden, even used ones. Actually, a used, Asian made SVT CL or a vintage V4B cost more than the above amps, new... Old Bassman amps seem kind of weak and so do old Traynors, Selmer etc.

I see the above amps as a possibility to try out the concept without ending up with a lot of bench time with old gear... In my current band (power trio) we play jazz/blues/old rock; John Scofield, Hendrix, some John Mayer, ZZ top, Scott Henderson etc.

Bugera 1960 is nice actually. I love mine and it would fit the sound you're after nicely, but I can't guarantee that it'll be reliable. Some people don't seem to trust them. You'll need a decent cab though I'd say. A lot of people are skeptical that they put out 150w but I wouldn't be so sure, they have a tried and tested design with larger tubes added. Even at that, the difference between 150 and 100 isn't huge, especially with tubes. I like mine, that's all I can say.

Ender, the T90 is definitely expensive here - almost twice the cost of the VB-2. I have tried it in a shop and it did not stir any emotions. Not bad, but limited in function and output... No master volume, limited tone controls (high + low only) and bulky. "Made in China" with a "Made in Western country" price tag.

mppd, Classifieds on TB does not do much for me in Sweden - vrong voltage and frequency, high shipping, no trying before buying etc.

zachoff, Traynor has no distribution in Sweden at all.

CL400Peavey, noted. One could have guessed...

One advantage with the Peavey is the two Ohm tap. It will be easy to hook up two Ampeg SVT-410HLFs without custom cables.

Custom cables are very easy to make on your own, but that is a valid point.

The Bugera will need a very efficient or very big cab to be loud and clean. Put one on an Ampeg 810 and it's overdrive bliss. I would opt for the Peavey for its versatility. The Bugera is sort of a one trick pony.

Thanks!
It is no problem to make a set of serially connected cables for the Bugera but it would mean that I had to bring a pair of regular cables as well to the gigs (so I can use my backup amp in case of failure).

I've got a late 70's Traynor YBA-1a that is my baby. Paired with a vintage Carvin 15" cab using a JBL D140R, this is my "there's no such thing as too much good vintage tone" rig. Not sure which vintage Traynors you've checked out, but check out the 1a if you get a chance.

Other than that, I'm interested to hear about inexpensive modern tube amps as well.

I personally prefer something with 6550's, but given your options the Peavey may be your best bet. Just make sure you register with them and keep your receipts in case you end up with the internal fuse failure like I had with mine.

Don't know about Sweden, but over here in Finland Peavey has always been overpriced, most unreliable stuff one can buy.

Perhaps the crappy distributor back in the day bought factory seconds or rejects and slapped 'em with the MADE IN USA extra on the price, I don't know, but I have yet to see a reliable and decent sounding Peavey product.
I've been cussing at 'em since mid 80's.

Surprisingly I have never witnessed a total Behringer/Bugera failure, and I have used quite a few. Only one EP1500 power amp failure that remedied itself when I tried to diagnose it I do remember.

Those companies have totally different reputation and that I do loathe, but their prices and reliability on processors and mixing desks for example can't be beat.
IMLE Bugera tube amps are really good value for the little coin they cost.

The 3 year warranty is also hard to beat if something actually goes wrong.